Disclaimer: nothing's mine.
AN: Hope you enjoy! Thanks for the support and reviews! Mainly just some Regina and Emma bonding time.
"Miss Swan!" Emma had been living here for a week now. One week, but letting out a breath as she stood up from her bed, it seemed like she had been living here a lot longer. Her and Regina actually got along pretty well, for the most part. Well, as well as the two of them could get along. Their schedule went a long way in helping Emma get through each day without Regina cutting off her head and it gave Regina some order. But as each day passed Emma could see Regina get snappier towards her or she would pick a fight with her for no other reason than that she could. Emma had a feeling she knew where this was coming from, but she wasn't sure how to deal with it, so they argued. And then argued some more.
Emma would be lying if she said she didn't enjoy some of it. There was something about fighting with the former mayor that was both familiar and exhilarating. It brought her back to a time before there was a curse. Before fairytale characters were real. Before she had parents and everything got so complicated. She huffed half-heartedly as she made her way down the stairs towards the voice that called her. She wasn't really in the mood for arguing right now though. She was tired from working, fairytale characters were a lot more annoying and complained more than their cursed counterparts. She was at the foot of the stairs when she heard it again.
"Miss Swan, get down here this instant!" Emma turned towards the door leading to the basement where she found the voice was coming from. She hadn't even known this place had a basement until Henry showed her. It was where the laundry room was. She trudged down the stairs until she saw Regina holding some clothes in her hands.
"Hey I thought you said you weren't going to be doing my laundry?" Emma asked curiously. She had done a load earlier and was just waiting for it to finish so she could put it in the dryer. Regina turned on her with a deadly stare. If Emma weren't so used to it already she might have shrunk back and fled for her life, but she knew Regina wouldn't really hurt her. Hopefully.
"I was not doing your laundry, Miss Swan. I was doing mine and guess what I find when I get down here, hmm?" Emma knows the question is rhetorical but answers anyway.
"Clothes." She shrugs knowing she's being a smartass but can't really help it. Regina just brings it out of her.
"Clothes?" She mutters incredulously. Now Emma knows she might need to back away because the look in the brunette's eyes are definitely shining with murderous intent. "Clothes!" She shrieks and Emma winces. Yup, she definitely pushed the former mayor too far this time. Even though she's not sure exactly what she did.
"Let's be more specific shall we? Your clothes are mixed with mine! My clothes were delicate and yours ruined them!" She held up a piece of cloth that did indeed look ruined.
"I didn't do it. I hadn't even put my clothes in the dryer yet. I swear." Emma tried to defend herself.
"So what do you suppose happened? The laundry fairies came and put the clothes in there together?" Regina was getting a little too hysterical over laundry and it was kind of freaking Emma out.
"Are there really laundry fairies?" She tried to distract the former evil queen. She hoped former.
"Of course there isn't!" It didn't work. "Now just look at what your horrible clothes did to mine. You will pay for all of the clothes that you ruined, Miss Swan." Now this got Emma upset.
"What do you mean horrible? And it wasn't my fault. You're the one that left your clothes in there in the first place. And what happened to the schedule? Today is my day for laundry." She went to grab some of her clothes to look at them. "You should be paying to fix my clothes! Look at these!" Emma pulled out one of her white tank tops, which was now a definite shade of pink.
"That looks no different than it did before, dear." Regina's eyes narrowed and they both didn't notice how close they were to each other. And they both most definitely did not notice the sparks that were jumping off each other.
"Now you will be paying to fix these Miss Swan." Regina's voice was deadly as she shoved the clothes at Emma. Emma shoved them right back. "I don't think so. You'll be paying to fix these." They stared at each other in a stand off until out of nowhere there was an explosion from behind them. They both fell to the ground in a heap as they were covered in water, soap and clothes. They both sat up slowly and looked around wide eyed.
"What just happened?" Emma spoke meeting Regina's eyes. When she took in all of Regina, Emma couldn't help it. She burst out laughing. Regina was covered in water and soap and if that weren't enough she had a bra hanging off her head. And it just so happened to be one of Emma's bras too.
Regina took in the laughing blonde before her curiously until she really took a good look at her too. She was soaked as well with soap bubbles around her head and one of her dark blue thongs hanging off of her ear. She finally understood the hilarity of the situation and laughed along with Emma. Both really laughing for the first time in what felt like ages. They finally let it all out and the tension they had been carrying with them since this situation started was lifted off of them with their laughter. It felt really good and they both continued laughing until their sides hurt. After their laughter died down they were left in a comfortable silence as they both sat back against one of the walls of the room.
"So…you want to talk about it?" Emma commented nonchalantly. Regina narrowed her gaze and crossed her arms over her chest in a defensive posture. It always amazed Emma how Regina's attitude could change so quickly, but she was getting used to it. "I have no idea what you are talking about, dear."
"Cut the crap, Regina. You're getting antsy being all cooped up in this house." Regina let out a sigh and for the first time that Emma had known her she saw Regina's defenses drop just a bit. Her shoulders went down infinitesimally, but it was enough for Emma to realize that Regina really was struggling with so many things. "That's probably where the bout of accidental magic came from."
Regina's brow furrowed in confusion, "What in the world are you talking about?"
"You know, when your emotions are so high that your magic just kinda responds to it and it gets out of control, like the washer and dryer blowing up." Emma shrugged as if this was common sense. Regina just stared at her like she had three heads, "Where did you get that from, Miss Swan?"
"From a very reliable source about magic." Emma didn't meet Regina's eyes as she let this little bit of information pass her lips. An uncomfortable silence fell between them, well at least to Emma it was uncomfortable.
"Are you going to tell me what this resource is, so I can figure out what you're talking about?" Emma could tell by the tone in her voice that Regina was growing impatient.
"Itwasharrypotter." Emma spoke very quickly and quietly, embarrassed by her answer.
"You're going to have to speak up, you sound like Henry." Emma finally met Regina's eyes and glared at her as she crossed her arms over her chest, "I got it from Harry Potter, okay?"
Regina started laughing again. That was just priceless. Emma just sighed. Of course Regina would laugh at her. What else was she supposed to do though? She didn't want to talk about her magical capabilities to anyone else, so she went to the only source that she found in this house, which happened to be Henry's bedroom. She had already read the 'Once Upon a Time' book, so Harry Potter was next on her list of magical references.
"Yeah, laugh it up, but by the way, why don't we have wands?" Emma asked as Regina's laughter was dying down.
"The fairies use wands and they are very powerful tools, but still magic comes from within you and if you're good enough you don't need a wand to channel that magic." Regina answered the question without a second thought. It was easy for her to go into teaching mode. It was like how she was with Henry, Henry always asked her a multitude of questions and she enjoyed that inquisitive nature about him. That must be why she felt comfortable talking to Emma like this she thought.
"Does it have something to do with light and dark magic?" Emma asked curiously, "because fairies are supposed to be light magic, right?" Emma scratched her head not even noticing that this was one of the most civil conversations that she had ever had with Regina.
"There really isn't a difference between light and dark magic. Magic is just magic. It's the way the user uses it that makes it light or dark, except for maybe you that is. You are pure light because you are the product of true love, the most purest and powerful of all magic." Regina looked over at Emma and Emma started feeling uncomfortable again.
"Anyways," Regina continued on for Emma's sake, "The fairies get their magic from fairy dust, which then is put into the wands that they use and that is how they use magic." Emma scrunched up her face as she thought about it and Regina just looked on waiting for her to do something. Eventually Emma just shrugged her shoulders, "Whatever, I don't really care how it works as long as I can learn how to not use it."
It was Regina's turn to look confused. How could Emma not want to tap into her magic? She was probably the most powerful magical being that walked through this realm and their old one. How could she not want to use that to her advantage? The possibilities were infinite when it came to that kind of magic. It made no sense to her whatsoever.
"You're strange." Emma threw a smirk at Regina for her comment.
"I've been called a lot worse." Regina looked her up and down. "I bet you have."
"Now back to the matter at hand. What are we going to do so that you don't blow up any more home appliances? Not that it wasn't entertaining, of course." Emma questioned with a wry smile.
"For the record I don't think it was just me having a 'bout of accidental magic'." Regina threw back at Emma.
"Thanks for using Harry Potter terminology and for now I think it's safe to say it was both of us and it wouldn't have happened if you hadn't have freaked out about the laundry." Regina let out a sigh as she thought about it. There was just silence though. Regina honestly didn't know what to say, she didn't know what Emma wanted to hear.
"How about we get you a new job? You know, I could always use a new Deputy." Emma tried to hold back her smile at the thought. For some reason she knew she would get a reaction out of Regina for this suggestion, but she figured anything was better than the lost look that had settled on Regina's features. A look Emma most certainly had never seen before and didn't like seeing now.
"That is never going to happen. Don't you think we spend enough time together as it is?" Regina shot Emma a scathing look that said you are probably the most idiotic person I have ever had the misfortune of knowing. Emma just smiled right back at her and Regina could only roll her eyes.
"Point taken. How about the flower shop?" Emma asked instead.
"Miss Swan, no one is going to hire me. No one would want to work with the Evil Queen." Regina spit out. Suddenly this conversation wasn't any more fun for Regina. It was rather depressing actually. Emma's face took on a thoughtful look. There had to be something that Regina could do that would be satisfying and occupy her time. Something she enjoyed doing.
"Well, what do you like to do?" Emma asked. Regina huffed annoyingly, this was going nowhere.
"I don't know. I've never really done anything that I enjoyed except for adopting Henry." Regina all of a sudden felt tired. This was never going to work.
"Come on, Regina, there has to be something that you have enjoyed in your unnaturally long life." Emma looked over at Regina who was looking more and more depressed by the second. Now that wouldn't do, "And if you say torturing Snow White I'm going to have to punch you or something." Emma was rewarded with a slight quirk of Regina's lips.
"Ah, yes, I did enjoy that." Emma just shook her head. Regina was strange herself, but for some reason Emma knew if she tried hard enough she could always get the former mayor to smile just a little bit. Regina didn't know how Emma did it either, with just a look or a word Emma could make her feel not so hopeless. "You know, I did enjoy horseback riding when I was a young girl."
"Horseback riding? So that's where Henry gets it from. No way he got that from me." Emma said thoughtfully. She didn't realize her statement had warmed Regina up just a little bit inside. Knowing that her son took after one of her better qualities.
"How about you work at the stables then?" Emma asked.
"No." Regina said flatly and Emma was taken off guard by Regina's all of a sudden coldness. It confused her for a moment, but as she studied Regina she remembered the story that Henry and Charming told her about how Regina's love had been brought back to life by Frankenstein, who happened to be their very own Dr. Whale. She studied Regina for a moment longer, gauging what way to take the conversation that wouldn't upset her and make things worse. She didn't know why, but she wanted to help Regina.
"How about you get a couple of horses then and make a stable in the backyard? God knows you have enough room back there and if you didn't it goes right back into the forest. I'm sure you could work something out." Regina thought about this. It could definitely work with the amount of space she had back there. She also wouldn't be reminded of Daniel as much as she would be at the Storybrooke stables where he had died for the second time right in front of her eyes. Even when she just dropped Henry off, just seeing that building brought back horrible feelings and she never even stepped a foot in there. Henry would also be able to have his horse at the house. It could be a fun project and would take up a lot of her spare time. She would have to think about that prospect.
Emma took her silence in stride and let her think that option over for a while. She knew she had probably hit the jackpot with that idea, but just in case she wanted to make sure Regina took in all of her options.
"And if that doesn't work maybe you could try a new hobby or something?" Emma offered. Regina brought her attention back to Emma and her eyebrow rose in silent question wondering where she was going with this. She couldn't help but notice that no one had ever asked her what she wanted to do with her life. What she enjoyed to do? What made her happy? And even if she would imagine someone asking her, she never would have come up with Emma Swan being the one to do it.
"Like what, dear?" Regina let out trying to sound exasperated and not at all interested in what Emma had to say, even though she was.
"Hmm…how about painting?" Regina stayed silent and gave her a look that said, 'really? That's the best you could come up with?'. "Or you could garden, wait never mind you already do that. How about playing an instrument? Oooh, wait I've got it! You can write a book!" Emma looked at Regina triumphantly. Regina still had that disapproving looking on her face.
"And what shall I write about? The weather?" Regina drawled back. Emma rolled her eyes.
"Of course not. You can write about you." Emma stated matter of factly. Regina's eyebrows shot up.
"Write about myself?" She asked just to make sure she understood what Emma was talking about.
"Yeah, you know, like an autobiography." Emma nodded like it was the simplest thing in the world.
"And who would want to read about that?" Regina asked scathingly.
"I would." Emma spoke catching Regina off guard again, so much so that she didn't know what to say. "Oh come on, I was never one for all this good vs. evil crap. There is no such thing. Everyone has good and bad in them and yes some people do more bad than good and others do more good than bad, but basically we all do both. I always like reading stories about what the bad guy went through, especially when the bad guy really isn't that bad or they're trying to redeem themselves. Most of the time people don't even know their side of the story. Like you. No one knows what your life was actually like and I think if you told them they would find it very interesting and they would probably would be a whole lot more forgiving."
To say Regina was stunned would be an understatement. It felt like Emma was letting her off the hook for all the bad things she had done. All the Evil Queen nonsense that had been closing in on her since she started this path of redemption. Emma just shrugged it off like she was actually forgiving her or at the very least giving her another chance. A chance that Regina herself wasn't even entirely sure that she deserved. But here was Emma. Emma with her annoying habits and annoying presence telling her it was ok and Regina felt a little bit of her burden lift off of her shoulders with that acceptance. An acceptance that she didn't even know she wanted let alone needed. Emma Swan was a conundrum. Hard, resolute, and very perceptive for someone who jumped into situations without thinking of the consequences.
"Well, you would be the only one, dear." Regina tried to regain her composure. Emma snorted.
"I doubt that. This world is a sucker for bad guys who are really good guys underneath. You know, the good girl falling for the misunderstood rebel or vice versa." Emma gave her a piercing gaze, "And I read Henry's book, you weren't always a bad guy. Just misunderstood." Emma let Regina take a moment, so the idea could sink in.
"And what makes you think I want anyone's forgiveness?" Regina lifted an eyebrow challengingly as she looked up at Emma.
"You probably don't, but the writing will probably be therapeutic or something like that." Emma shrugged.
"Now you just sound like Dr. Hopper." Emma grinned at her.
"I'll take that as a compliment. I think it's the first one you've ever given to me by the way." Regina rolled her eyes and huffed.
"I can assure you it was not meant as a compliment." Emma shrugged.
"You say tomato, I say tomatoe." Regina shook her head. Emma Swan was definitely a conundrum.
They sat there again in silence until Emma finally made herself stand up. Then she uncharacteristically held out her hand to help Regina up as well and Regina took it without thinking twice. Once their hands touched an energy went through them both and when they looked around the laundry room completely righted itself. Emma quickly let go of Regina's hand and luckily Regina was already on her feet otherwise she would have fallen from how fast Emma released her grip on her hand. Regina felt the loss immediately and noticed how Emma stuck her hands in her back pockets like she always did when she was nervous.
"I guess magic is good for something cause I was so not looking forward to cleaning up that mess." Emma talked with her usual casual tone that came so easily when she was trying to hide how she was really feeling.
"Well done, Miss Swan." Regina nodded in assurance.
"I'm sure that was more you than me. I mean look even our clothes are fixed," Emma said as she pointed at their clothes that were neatly folded and looking brand new, "that has you written all over it."
Regina just stood there watching as Emma went over to inspect the clothes. She couldn't see what Emma started chuckling at though until Emma turned around with a pair of Batman underwear held up in her outstretched hands. Regina scrunched her face in confusion, she hadn't been doing Henry's laundry today. "I told you it wasn't me that put my clothes in the dryer with yours."
Regina finally understood as she shook her head. Henry. Damn, kid was going to be the death of them both. Emma grabbed her clothes and went to walk back up the stairs.
"Oh, and if you don't want to write a book or make your own horse stables, the offer as my deputy still stands. It would definitely help with your boredom and blowing up things." Emma smirked back at her from the first step on the stairs.
"Really, Miss Swan?" Regina sighed in disbelief, "Like I said I spend enough time with you as it is, I don't want to spend workdays with you as well."
"Ah, Regina you know you miss me during the day. You are just counting down the minutes until I come home. You can admit it, your secrets safe with me." Emma winked and started walking up the stairs again as she saw Regina's face getting redder, whether it was from embarrassment or she was getting mad Emma couldn't tell. Emma suppressed her laugh though not wanting to upset the brunette too much. Not after their somewhat bonding experience.
"Miss Swan." Emma could hear the threat in Regina's voice and Emma did laugh then. Sometimes it was just too easy to get under Regina's skin and all too much fun.